Wednesday, July 22, 2015

I'm the voice of a puppet!! There's a bucket list item I can cross off!

Seriously, I've been the voice of "Checkers the Cheetah" during our morning VBS assemblies. It's been great! But afterwards I've been having a hankering for Cheetoe's!

Oops! Wrong cheetah.

Speaking of great, what a wonderful group of adult and youth volunteers we've had this week at VBS! Attendance has grown every day (could it be the big blow up water slide we have in the yard?) I think attendance has grown because of the great people, great lessons and all the great food!

Singing wise, I've been busy this week singing with the pre-K kids after the opening assembly, and then singing with all the other kids and youth at closing.

And to tell the truth, I've really needed this week. Monday evening I sang as well as for our UMMen's group. All the singing this week has given me a strong sense of balance that I haven't had in a few weeks. Singing and playing guitar for other people is a devotional sort of thing with me. If we can sing together, then we can work together to do great things for the Kingdom of God. I'm sure how to better explain it, but after singing for people, I feel calmer, more controlled, more at peace.

Balance is a good thing. Perspective helps me to not choose to react out of emotion, but to respond more often out of faith.

Friday, July 17, 2015

The transition to our new church and home in Crowley, Texas continues. All is going well. We still have a few boxes left to unpack. Garage and workshop stuff I will unpack in the fall when it is cooler.

Singing and guitar wise, I "back in the saddle again!"

I am playing guitar for our 9am informal service on Sunday mornings, hoping in the process to encourage other players to come join in the fun. I really haven't played much praise & worship / contemporary Christian music, so there is a learning curve (what is it with contemporary Christian artists love of Eb?)

This past week I visited the local library, and will turn in my volunteer paperwork soon. I think they are interested in having me come on Friday mornings when I can through the summer. Hopefully we can talk more in the near future about doing something for after-school in the fall.

My next stop is the Crowley Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. I believe one of our church members works there. That is a help, especially when you walk in "off-the-streets" and introduce yourself as a singer / guitar player who will sing and play for free.

"Free" is what I am all about. I'm a good performer, but not good enough to make a living at singing and playing. And when you do it for a living, there is all the self-promotion work and travel. And then, the people I love to perform for the most, children and older adults in retirement or nursing centers, would not normally be part of my usual audience.

I think I have it now the way it is supposed to be. If I have my health when I retire, I will probably split my time singing at Philmont Scout Ranch in the summers, and singing wherever Hugworks.org wants me to go. Either way, I will be singing the songs that I love with the people that I love, respect and appreciate the most.

It was confirmed last night that Tom Petty died after being found in his home unresponsive and in full cardiac arrest. Tom and the Heartb...

THANKS FOR DROPPING IN . . .

Rick's Song Bag . . .

is the blog of Rev. Rick Mang, a United Methodist clergyman who lives in Texas where he serves as pastor of a church in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Rick is also a Certified Therapeutic Music Entertainer who sings for senior adults in area nursing, rehab and retirement homes, and in senior activity centers. Rick also sings for different church and community groups and events as his schedule allows.

For more information about Therapeutic Music Entertainment, singing to senior adults, or to start a music conversation, please email Rick at revrickmang@gmail.com.

I have been blessed to have had several mentors along my life's journery. Joe Laughlin was one of them. Joe was my "adopted" big brother, best friend, guitar and vocal mentor, and fellow Christian folk philospher. I miss him.

CHILDREN'S WORSHIP CD

Rick still has copies of his Children's Worship CD ... contact him by email at revrickmang@gmail.com to get a copy! Postage paid in the US. Donations are accepted. Free if that's how you want it.

Would you like to share your story about your favorite musical instrument?

I am soliciting stories about people and their favorite instruments to make music with. If you would like to share your story, then please contact me at revrickmang@gmail.com. I will get back with you to soon.

DISCLAIMER . . .

It goes without saying . . .

The thoughts, opinions, ideas, stories, meditations, prayers, and other information written anywhere on this blog are usually my own ramblings and responses to things I have seen, heard, read or witnessed. I write out of the ever changing and conflicted struggle that exists between my head and my heart as I try to live out my life mission in the best and most productive way I can.

What I write or share in no way reflects the views of any church, denomination, political party, friend, relative, writer, musical group, musician friend, artist, fishing buddy, fellow hiker, walker, other blogger, city, state, county, nation, or for that matter anybody else you possibly could ever hope to think of.

Sometimes, the words and thoughts of others are so well written, and touch me so deeply, that I am moved to share them. When and if I share the words and thoughts of others, I honestly try to give and acknowledge appropriate credit, and will do so if you bring it to my attention that I haven't.